Seven MNTV-ers met Rangers Chris and Jason in the main car park at Lyme Park on a cool but dry morning (a huge difference to the deluge of rain that fell yesterday!!).
We were transported back to the admissions hut in the NT vehicle in a couple of trips, and driven up the short drive, through the wooden gate, to Red Lane, which is just outside the boundary of Lyme Park.
Part way up Red Lane, we went into a Council owned field where we've worked previously, pulling Hymalayan Balsam. This time we were cutting back Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) - a thorny native British shrub/small tree known for it's early white blossoms in Spring and the dark blue-black fruit (called Sloes) in Autumn. We were cutting it back to the fence line so that the meadow became much larger and could be used for a variety of purposes in the future by the NT.
We were SO lucky with the weather as it improved during the day, and was very sunny for most the the afternoon.
Initially we loaded the dead Blackthorn that had been previously cut onto the back of the trailer, so it could be transported into Lyme Park and disposed of another time. The trailer was re-filled multiple times during the day as we continued to cut the Blackthorn back.
We had our usual break for coffee and cake in the morning, and a lunch break at 1pm, finishing the day soon after 3pm.
We were pleased with what we'd achieved but, as there is still more to deal with, it may be our task next time we visit Lyme Park.
Sue B
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